Both of these texts deal with the issue of wanting to be
white. In The Talk: After Ferguson, we see the author, Dana Canedy, struggle to
deal with the comment of her son, “Can’t I just be white”. This was in response
to her conversation with him about how black boys were treated by the police.
In Ally’s choice, we have Ally, who comes from a black family, however she
chooses to identify with white because she looks white, and due to past torment
as a young child. I actually wish that Dana Canedy could sit down and talk to
Ally, because I feel that she has so many insecurities about herself regarding
her race. I admit seeing the pictures had me a little taken aback at first.
However, after hearing the history behind their family, and where they’re from
it all made sense. I feel like Ally’s reasoning is wrong behind wanting to
identify as white. Even her excuse, “I want more for my children” and what she
said about how if her mother were to pass, she would leave and never associate
with her hometown ever again. These are completely selfish statements. Yes I understand
that she was tormented, called names, and picked on as a child, but there are a
lot of other people who have gone and are going through way more, and are still
proud to call themselves black. It is absolutely wrong to deny one’s heritage.
By denying the fact that she is black, she is denying and bringing shame to all
of her ancestors who are the reason that she is here right now. She is denying
her native ancestors who walked the trail of tears, and the slaves that were
shackled and packed together on a boat, all in which survived so that she can
be here, as well as her children.
It is true that in both article's Ally's choice and the Talk After Ferguson the authors agree with the idea that white people are benefitted in society. In Ally's choice she decided to identify as white even though she was black in order to get the benefits it comes with when being white. She decided to identify as white in order to help herself and to make sure her children will have a better life and not one that is treated poorly just because of the color of their skin. In The Talk After Ferguson, most African American families were scared in front of police because of the hate that police have shown towards blacks and how mnay blacks have been getting killed by police. This shows how just because of the color of their skin they are a at a disadvantage because police are treating blacks horribly and whites are treated superior and benefitted by being white. The authors child said he did not want to be black anymore because of the way they were treating black people. In both articles the blacks are being treated poorly based on the color of their skin which made Jordan want to identify as white and Ally identify as white as well.
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